India, May 21 -- Declining for the ninth consecutive session, the rupee depreciated 13 paise to close at a fresh lifetime low of 96.83 (provisional) against the US dollar on Wednesday as elevated global crude prices amid the West Asia crisis stoked inflation worries.

At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 96.89 against the US dollar, then lost further ground to touch a record low of 96.95 and a high of 96.65, before settling at 96.83 (provisional), registering a fall of 13 paise over its previous close.

In the previous session, the rupee tumbled 50 paise to settle at 96.70 against the dollar. "Indian rupee hit fresh lows on a strong dollar and a surge in US treasury yields. US 30-year treasury yields rose to a two...